Method of processing data in a medium access control (MAC) layer

ABSTRACT

A method of processing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer through which at least one first channel is mapped to a second channel in a transmitting end of a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, a MAC layer data block is configured by including at least one higher layer data block received through the at least one first channel and adding a header thereto which includes at least one field which indicates at least two types of information. Furthermore, the MAC layer data block is transferred to a lower layer through the second channel.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/239,778 filed Sep. 29, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,649,907, issued Jan.19, 2010, which pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a) claims the benefit ofKorean Application No. 10-2005-51300, filed on Jun. 15, 2005, and whichpursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/615,106, filed on Sep. 30, 2004, in the name ofinventors Sung Duck CHUN and Young Dae LEE, titled “MBMB and HSUPA,”which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of processing data, and moreparticularly, to processing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating an Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS) network of a conventional mobilecommunication system. The UMTS is comprised of, largely, a userequipment (UE), a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), and acore network (CN). The UTRAN comprises at least one Radio NetworkSub-systems (RNS), and each RNS is comprised of one Radio NetworkController (RNC) and at least one base station (Node B) which iscontrolled by the RNC. In each Node B, there is at least one cell.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a Radio InterfaceProtocol (RIP) which is located between a UE and the UTRAN. Here, the UEis associated with a 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)wireless access network standard. The structure of the RIP is comprisedof a physical layer, a data link layer, and a network layer on thehorizontal layers. On the vertical plane, the structure of the RIP iscomprised of a user plane, which is used for transmitting data, and acontrol plane, which is used for transmitting control signals. Theprotocol layers of FIG. 2 can be categorized as L1 (first layer), L2(second layer), and L3 (third layer) using an Open SystemInterconnection (OSI) modes as the basis.

L1 uses the physical channel to provide Information Transfer Service(ITS) to the higher layer. The physical layer is connected with the MAClayer via a transport channel through which data between the two layersis transmitted. As for transmitting data between the transmitting sideand the receiving side, data is transmitted via the physical channel.

In L2, the MAC is connected with the RNC via a logical channel throughwhich the MAC provides service to the RNC. Here, the MAC can be furtherdefined by a plurality of sub-layers, such as MAC-b, MAC-c/sh, MAC-d,MAC-e, based on the transmission channels.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating protocol of an Enhanced DedicatedChannel (E-DCH). As illustrated in FIG. 3, the MAC-e sub-layer, whichsupports the E-DCH, is located below the UTRAN and the MAC-D sub-layerof the UE, respectively. The MAC-e sub-layer of the UTRAN is located inNode B and in each UE. On the other hand, the MAC-d sub-layer of theUTRAN is located in the Serving RNC (SRNC) and in each UE.

As discussed above, the MAC layer comprises the MAC-d sub-layer, MAC-essub-layer, and the MAC-e sub-layer. With respect to a UE, there is morethan one data channel which can transmit data simultaneously, and eachdata channel is endowed with different service qualities. Here, theservice quality refers to data error ratio and transmission delay time,for example, and follows independent service quality parameter for eachdata channel. In other words, for example, if there are a voice serviceand an internet service, since the parameters for providing each serviceis different, the settings for the downlink channels transmitting dataare different.

Furthermore, the data rate transmitted through each channel is notconstant, and the data rate changes with time. For example, in awireless communication system, one E-DCH can be allocated to a UE, andsubsequently, if only one data channel can be mapped to the E-DCH at aspecified time, data transmission efficiency would decrease and wirelesschannel resources would be wasted. In detail, assume that the E-DCH hasa capability to transmit 1000 bits of data at a specified time. In thisexample, a first E-DCH designated data channel has 500 bits of data atthe specified time, and a second E-DCH designated data channel has 300bits of data at the same specified time. If one E-DCH designated datachannel, which can transmit 1000 bits of data at a given time, is usedto transmit 800 bits of data instead of using two different channels totransmit the same amount of data, inefficient utilization of datachannel can be minimized while reducing waste of unnecessary wirelessresources.

To promote efficiency of wireless communication resources, every timedata passes through each sub-layer of the MAC-d/MAC-es/MAC-e, datablocks of each higher layer can be combined to form a lower layer datablock. In this case, the transmitting end has to provide the receivingend information on identifying the higher layer data block so that thereceiving end can accurately identify and separate a plurality of higherlayer data blocks from the lower layer data block. Such information isreferred to as mapping information.

Although providing detailed description of the data block combinationsin the mapping information helps the receiving end to separate the datablocks, providing too much information can actually be more harmful.That is, because the mapping information is not data but controlinformation, and therefore, providing too much control information canclog the transmission channel and waste valuable resources. Furthermore,the mapping information should minimize using the lower channels (e.g.,transport channels) so that the receiving end can more accuratelyseparate the data blocks. In other words, the mapping information shouldbe comprised of very small number of bits or should use least amount oflower channel resources while carrying maximum amount of data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of processingdata in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer that substantially obviatesone or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the relatedart.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of processingdata in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer through which at least onefirst channel is mapped to a second channel in a transmitting end of awireless communication system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofprocessing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer through which atleast one first channel is mapped to a second channel in a receivingside of a wireless communication system.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method ofprocessing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of a userequipment (UE) through which at least one first channel is mapped to asecond channel in a transmitting end of a wireless communication system.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, amethod of processing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer throughwhich at least one first channel is mapped to a second channel in atransmitting end of a wireless communication system. More specifically,the method includes configuring a MAC layer data block by including atleast one higher layer data block received through the at least onefirst channel and adding a header thereto which includes at least onefield. Here, any one of the at least one field indicates at least twotypes of information. Moreover, the method includes transferring the MAClayer data block to a lower layer through the second channel.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method in the receivingside in a wireless communication system includes receiving a MAC layerdata block from a lower layer through the second channel, wherein theMAC layer data block includes a header which includes at least onefield. Here, any one of the at least one field indicates at least twotypes of information. Moreover, the method includes transferring atleast one higher layer data block included in the MAC layer data blockto a higher layer via the at least one first channel using the at leasttwo types of information included in the any one of at least one field.

Yet in another aspect of the present invention, a method of processingdata in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of a user equipment (UE)includes configuring a MAC layer data block by including at least onehigher layer data block received through the at least one first channeland attaching a header thereto which includes at least one field. Here,any one of the at least one field indicates at least two types ofinformation. Furthermore, the method includes transferring the MAC layerdata block to a lower layer through the second channel.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating an Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS) network of a conventional mobilecommunication system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a Radio InterfaceProtocol (RIP) which is located between a UE and the UTRAN;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating protocol of an Enhanced DedicatedChannel (E-DCH);

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating protocol for the Enhanced DedicatedChannel (E-DCH);

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format of a MAC-ePDU; and

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a wireless communication device forcarrying out the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating protocol for the Enhanced DedicatedChannel (E-DCH). In FIG. 4, both a Dedicated Channel (DCH) and the E-DCHis a transmission channel used exclusively by a UE. In particular, theE-DCH is used by the UE to transmit data in an uplink direction to theUTRAN and can transmit the data at high speed unlike the DCH. In orderto transmit data at high speed, the E-DCH uses schemes such as HybridAutomatic Repeat Request (HARQ) and Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC)and Node B controlled scheduling.

In order to provide support to the E-DCH, Node B transmits to the UEdownlink control information for controlling E-DCH transmission by theUE. The downlink control information includes, for example, a responsemessage (e.g., Acknowledgment/Negative Acknowledgment) for managing HARQand E-DCH resources allocation information for Node B controlledscheduling. On the contrary, the UE transmits uplink control informationto Node B. As uplink control information, there are E-DCH rate requestinformation for Node B controlled scheduling, UE buffer statusinformation, and UE power status information, to name a few.

For the E-DCH, a MAC-d flow is defined between the MAC-d and the MAC-e.Here, the logical channels are mapped to the MAC-d flow, which is mappedto the E-DCH, which is mapped to the Enhanced Dedicated Physical DataChannel (E-DPDCH).

The MAC-d sub-layer is responsible for managing the DCH, and theMAC-e/MAC-es sub-layers is responsible for managing the E-DCH, which isused for transmitting high speed data in the uplink direction.Currently, the MAC-e sub-layer and the MAC-es sub-layer are not clearlydefined in the UE.

The MAC-d sub-layer of the transmitting end configures a MAC-d ProtocolData Unit (PDU) from a MAC-d Service Data Unit (SDU) received from thehigher layer (or the RLC, to be specific). Alternatively, the MAC-dsub-layer of the receiving end identifies or separates the MAC-d SDUfrom the MAC-d PDU received from the lower layer and thereafter,transmits to the higher layer. Here, the MAC-d exchanges the MAC-d PDUwith the MAC-e sub-layer via the MAC-d flow or exchanges the MAC-d PDUwith the physical layer via the DCH. The MAC-d sub-layer of thereceiving end uses the MAC-d header, which is attached to the MAC-d PDU,to restore the MAC-d SDU and transmits the restored MAC-d SDU to thehigher layer.

The MAC-e/MAC-es sub-layers of the transmitting end configures a MAC-esPDU from the MAC-d PDU received from the higher layer or specifically,from the MAC-d sublayer. The MAC-es PDU can be configured from the MAC-dPDU received via a logical channel. Moreover, since the MAC-e PDU can beconfigured from a plurality of the MAC-es PDUs, the MAC-e PDU can beconfigured from at least two MAC-d PDUs transmitted via at least twological channels. Furthermore, in the process of creating a lower layerPDU from an higher layer PDU in the MAC layer transmitting end, a headeris attached. Here, the attached header can include various controlinformation such as mapping information. In the receiving end, theMAC-es PDU can be identified or separated from the MAC-e PDU receivedfrom the physical layer, and the MAC-es sub-layer of the receiving endrestores the MAC-d PDU from the MAC-es PDU and transmits the restoredMAC-d PDU to the MAC-d. Here, the MAC-e exchanges the MAC-e PDU with thephysical layer via the E-DCH.

As discussed above, in order for the receiving end to receive a datablock (e.g., MAC-e PDU) and to accurately separate or identify thereceived data block into a plurality of higher layer data blocks (e.g.,MAC-es PDU or MAC-d PDU), the transmitting end has to provide thereceiving end with mapping information. Preferably, in providing themapping information to the receiving end, a data block header should beincluded.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format of a MAC-ePDU. In FIG. 5, the MAC-e PDU is comprised of a header portion and adata portion. The data portion can include at least one MAC-es PDU or atleast one MAC-d PDU, and in this illustration, two MAC-es PDUs areincluded in the data portion. In the MAC-e header portion, the mappinginformation is included. The mapping information 1 and the mappinginformation 2 in FIG. 5 represent the mapping information related to theMAC-es PDU 1 and the MAC-es PDU 2, respectively.

Furthermore, the header portion includes various fields. That is, thefields can be described as various information, such as size of the datablock, a number of a higher layer data blocks in the lower layer datablock, and a logical channel identification, to facilitate and makepossible identifying the upper layer data blocks from the lower layerdata block. Without these fields or information, data blockidentification would be difficult. More specifically, in reference toFIG. 5, the MAC-e header portion can include various fields. Inparticular, one of the fields can include information for describing oridentifying data of the data portion. This field can identify, forexample, a logical channel, MAC-d flow, and size of the MAC-d PDUsconcatenated into the associated MAC-es PDU. In addition, the otherfields can identify other information such as the size of a set ofconsecutive MAC-d PDUs, a number of MAC-d PDUs, and identification of alogical channel.

Preferably, the mapping information uses a minimum amount of lowerchannel (i.e., transport channel) resources and provides accurateinformation so that the receiving end can accurately separate oridentify the higher layer data blocks from the lower layer data block.In other words, the mapping information should be made up of a smallnumber of bits or should use a least amount of lower channel resourceswhile including a maximum amount of data.

In the mapping information, certain information can be considerednecessary in making effective mapping information. The mappinginformation should include information for identifying channels,information for identifying the size of the data block, and informationon the number of data blocks. The details of each type of informationwill be described in detail.

As an embodiment of the present invention, the objective is to minimizethe size of the mapping information. To accomplish this, as discussedabove, the mapping information has to include information foridentifying channels. That is, if at least one higher layer data blocktransmitted via at least one higher channel (e.g., logical channel) isused to form or configure a single lower layer data block, the mappinginformation should provide information necessary to identify via whichlogical channel(s) at least one data block came from. Additionally, themapping information should include information for identifying the sizeof the higher layer data block (or amount of data in each data block) oralternatively, the boundary line for each higher layer data block in thelower layer block. As such, using the mapping information, the receivingend should be able to identify from the single lower layer data blockwhich higher layer data was transmitted via which logical channel.

Absent the mapping information, it is still possible to determine howthe lower layer data block was formed or configured at the receivingend. However, since the receiving end does not have information onchannel identification and/or the size of the data blocks, the receivingend most likely cannot accurately reconstruct and transmit the data toeach respective channel.

In addition to the information for identifying channels and theinformation for identifying the size of the data block, the mappinginformation can be included is the number of the higher layer datablocks. The discussion of the number of data blocks will be providedbelow.

As for minimizing the size of the mapping information, informationrelated to identifying channels can be reduced. More specifically, ahigher layer data block (e.g., MAC-e PDU) includes a header as it istransmitted via a logical channel. A header comprises at least one fieldin which various information related to the data block is included. Forexample, a field can include information identifying a logical channel,MAC-d flow, and size of the MAC-d PDUs concatenated into the associatedMAC-es PDU (hereinafter, this field is referred to as “data descriptionfield). Moreover, the header can include fields containing informationof the MAC-e PDU pertaining to, for example, a size index, which is afield that identifies the size of a set of consecutive MAC-d PDUs, alogical channel identification (ID), which is a field that providesidentification of the logical channel instance when multiple logicalchannels are carried on the same MAC-d flow, and a number of MAC-d PDUs,which identifies the number of consecutive MAC-d PDUs corresponding tothe value of the data description field. The mapping between the datadescription field value and the logical channel ID, MAC-d flow, and thePDU size is provided by higher layers. Furthermore, due to thequantization in the lower block sizes (e.g., transport block sizes) thatcan be supported, the data description field value of can be appended atthe end of the MAC-e header to indicate that there are no more MAC-esPDUs concatenated into this particular MAC-e PDU.

Naturally, each field in the header is represented with at least 1 bit.As such, having a plurality of these information fields can result inthe header having a relatively large number of bits. A size informationfield is comprised of the size index (3 bits), the number of MAC-d PDUs(7 bits), and a flag (1 bit), totaling 11 bits. At the same time, thelogical channel ID, which is comprised of 4 bits, can take varying sizedepending on the number of logical channels and the number of MAC-dPDUS. Evidently, the size of the size information field and the logicalchannel ID field in the header is noticeably significant.

The functionality of the logical channel ID field is needed because itidentifies the logical channel to which the MAC-d PDU is related.However, it is not necessary to include the logical channel ID field ineach MAC-d PDU, which means that the increase in the size of the headercorresponds directly to the number of MAC-d PDUs. From the fact that oneMAC-e PDU includes more than one MAC-d PDU from the same logicalchannel, the logical channel ID can be included only once for eachseries of MAC SDU from one logical channel. In other words, only onecommon logical identification ID should be attached for all the MAC-dSDUs that belong to the same logical channel. In practice, having onecommon logical channel ID field does not cause ambiguity problem in thereceiver side since the MAC-d SDUs have the same logical channel IDfield value.

Alternatively, the size index field can be excluded from the header toreduce the size of the MAC-e PDU by referring to the logical channel IDfield. In other words, this can be done by inferring the PDU size fromthe logical channel directed by the logical channel ID filed.

In short, the size of the mapping information can be reduced byincluding the logical channel ID field once for the series of MAC-d PDUsfor the same logical channel in the MAC-e PDU header, and by notincluding the size index field in the MAC-e PDU header.

In addition to reducing the size of the mapping information by reducingor eliminating unnecessary field information from the header of the datablock, the data block can be more efficiently utilized. As describedabove, one of the information the mapping information should include isidentifying the size of the data block or amount of data for each datablock. As one of the methods of reducing the mapping information size,the information related to amount of data transmitted via a logicalchannel, included in the mapping information, can be provided directly.That is, if a 100 bit data is transmitted via a first logical channel toa lower layer data block, this information is directly provided to thereceiving end. In this situation, a size of the mapping information,which provides the data amount, increases in accordance with a maximumamount of data that can be included in the single lower layer datablock. For example, if the amount of data that lower layer data blockcan transmit is maximum of 1000 bits, the mapping information forproviding channel information should be at least log₂ 10000=14 bits.

Alternatively, as another method of reducing the size of the mappinginformation, a set of smaller size data blocks or amount sizes can beassigned with respect to a higher layer data block. In other words, thesize of the smaller size data blocks (or amount of smaller amount size)is smaller than the size (or amount) of one higher layer data block.Thereafter, the higher layer data block size or amount is defined basedon the number of smaller-sized data blocks. For example, if the amountof data in the higher layer data block is 100 bits, this 100 bit datablock can be expressed with 10 data blocks where each block size is 10bits or 5 data blocks where each block size is 20 bits. Here, if thetransmitting side and the receiving side both agree to express or indexand map the 10 bit data block or the 20 bit data block into smaller datasize (e.g., 10 bits=‘1’ or 20 bits=‘2’), the size of the higher layerdata block can be reduced since the size of data is expressed using theindex.

In operation, it is possible to consider the different nature orcharacteristics of each channel. For example, if the first logicalchannel transmits smaller data size, then the first logical channel canuse indexing of 10 bits=‘1’ and 20 bits=‘2’, for mapping the datablocks. At the same time, if the second logical channel transmits largerdata size, the second logical channel can use indexing of 50 bits=‘1’and 100 bits=‘2’ for mapping the data blocks. As such, different logicalchannels can be specialized.

The following is Table 1 illustrates an example of indexes in mappinginformation relative to the sizes of data blocks from each channel.

TABLE 1 1^(st) Logical 2^(nd) Logical 3^(rd) Logical Channel ChannelChannel Index 1 100 bits 50 bits 50 bits Index 2 200 bits 60 bits 75bits Index 3 300 bits 70 bits 100 bits 

In the previous example, the data bit sizes of the data in a specificchannel can be fixed without variance. That is, if the sizes of the datablock in the specified channel is fixed or constant, the transmittingand receiving sides do not have to confirm the data bit sizes every timedata block is transmitted and received. Instead, as long as thereceiving end knows from which logical channel the data block istransmitted, the receiving end can determine the sizes of the datablock. Therefore, it is possible to combine or separate a data blockwithout transmitting and receiving the mapping information.

In combining at least one higher layer data block into a single lowerlayer data block or vice versa, it is meaningless to have information ofthe size of at least one higher layer data blocks. That is, in order forthe receiving end to accurately determine from a single lower layer datablock the data sizes transmitted via each channel, not only does thereceiving end need information on size of at least one higher layerdata, it also needs information of a number of higher layer data blocks.

Furthermore, in another method, if the single lower layer data block isformed from at least one higher layer data block, the data size of thehigher layer data block transmitted via one logical channel can bedefined by at least index. For example, referring to Table 1, inconfiguring one lower layer data block, assume that there is 500 bits ofdata in the first logical channel. Here, five 100 bit-sized data blocksof index 1 can be used to define 500 bits. In other words, the sameindex of the same channel can be used to define or express the size ofthe higher layer data block. Alternatively, one 200 bit-sized data blockof index 2 can be used along with one 300 bit-sized data block of index3 to define 500 bits.

An advantage of using one index in forming or configuring one lowerlayer data block is that by using one and same index to define orexpress each higher layer data block size, the mapping information canbe smaller in size than if more than one index is used. On the flipside, a disadvantage of using one index over a plurality of indexes isthat depending on the size of the higher layer data block, the fixedsize of one index sometimes cannot exactly define or express the higherlayer data block size. If the second logical channel has 130 bits, forexample, again referring to Table 1, using only index 1 would not beable to accurately define or express 130 bits since the data block sizeof index 1 of the second logical channel is 50 (50 bits×3=150), hence 20bits would be wasted. However, if the same number of bits can be definedor expressed using index 2 and index 3 (60 bits+70 bits=130 bits), datasize of the higher layer data block can be accurately expressed.

As mentioned above, another information that has to be included in themapping information of the lower layer data block is a number of datablocks, which is mapped to each index for defining or expressing thedata size of the lower layer data blocks. Referring to the previousexample, the higher layer data block of 500 bits is transmitted thefirst logical channel. In this case, the receiving end cannot accuratelyidentify the higher layer data blocks from the lower layer data block ifthe mapping information contains information such as that the higherlayer data block was transmitted via the first logical channel, and thatthe data sizes the higher layer data block was defined or expressedbased on index 1. To put differently, information on the number of 50bit data blocks used must be provided as well. Here, the value indicatedby the index can be data block size information or a different parameterrelated to the characteristic of a channel.

Another method of minimizing the size of the mapping information, achannel identification (ID) of a channel used to transmit higher layerdata blocks and size of upper layer data blocks can be predefinedbetween the transmitting side and the receiving side using an index. Thedifference in this method from the previously explained method is thatthe channel ID of the higher layer data block transmitting channel canbe defined using the index. Here, the index can be considered as a fieldin the header.

More specifically, the index can be used to define the originatingchannel through which the data of the higher layer data block, which isa part of one lower layer data block, was transmitted, and to arrange inadvance the transmitting end and the receiving end to provide the sizeof the higher layer data block. This index, containing the aboveinformation, is then included in the mapping information. For example,assume that the first logical channel and the second logical channel aremapped together to a single channel using the MAC layer, and that thefirst logical channel has a set having three sizes that can beconfigured and the second logical channel has a set having five sizesthat can configured. Here, if the channel ID and the data sizeinformation are coded to the mapping information, respectively, 1 bitchannel ID information and 3 bit data size information, totaling 4 bits,are necessary. However, if the channel ID and the data size informationare expressed or defined by one index and then coded, the index can havea size of 3 bits since a possible total combination is 8. Consequently,the size of the mapping information can be minimized.

The embodiments of the present invention are described with respect tothe wireless communication system. However, the embodiments of thepresent invention can apply to other devices such as a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA) and a notebook/mobile computer having wirelesscommunication capabilities. In addition, the terminologies used todescribe the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to theUMTS or similar wireless communication system. Furthermore, theembodiments of the present invention can apply to various wirelessinterface techniques such as a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Frequency Division MultipleAccess (FDMA), and can also apply to wireless communication systemsusing a physical layer.

The embodiments of the present invention can be expressed in software,firmware, hardware, or in any combination thereof. In other words, theembodiments of the present invention can be embodied in a hardware usinghardware logics such as codes, a circuit chip, an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC). Moreover, a computer language can be used toexpress as codes the embodiments of the present invention into arecording device, such as hard disk drive (HDD), floppy disk, and atape, and an optical storage medium, a Read Only Memory (ROM), and aRandom Access Memory (RAM).

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a wireless communication device forcarrying out the embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 6, awireless communication device 100 includes a processing unit module 110(e.g., micro processor or digital processor), a Radio Frequency (RF)module 135, a power control module 106, an antenna 140, a battery 155, adisplay module 115, a keypad 120, a storage module 130, a speaker 145,and a microphone 150.

A user enters command information via the keypad 120 or the microphone145. The processing unit 110 processes the inputted command informationin order to execute the user requested command. At the same time, thestorage module 130 is searched for necessary data in executing thecommand, and the processing unit module 110 instructs the display module115 to display to the user the inputted command information and theacquired data from the storage module 130.

Thereafter, the processing unit module 110 transmits the commandinformation to the RF module 135 so that wireless signal, including thevoice communication data, can be transmitted by the RD module 135. TheRF module 135 possesses a transmitter and a receiver for transmittingand receiving signals, and the wireless signals are ultimatelytransmitted and received to and from the antenna 140. If the RF module135 receives the wireless signal, the processing unit module 110converts the received wireless signal to base band frequency so that thewireless signal can be processed. The converted signal is transmittedthe speaker 145 or transmitted as decoded information.

The RF module 135 is used to receive data from the network or transmitinformation detected or generated from the wireless communicationdevice. The storage module 130 stores information detected or generatedfrom the wireless communication device. Moreover, the processing unitmodule 110 receives data from the wireless communication device,processes the received data, and/or transmits the processed data.

The wireless communication device according to the embodiments of thepresent invention, as illustrated in FIG. 4, can include a protocolstack which is comprised of a plurality of layers. The MAC layer of theUE can combine an higher layer data block with the MAC layer data blockvia at least one logical channel. Furthermore, the MAC layer of the UEcan also combine channel ID information of the higher layer delivered tothe MAC layer via the higher layer data block and combine a mappinginformation including information related to amount of data of eachhigher layer data block to the MAC layer data block. In addition, theMAC layer of the UE can transmit the MAC layer data block to a lowerlayer via the lower channel (i.e., transport channel). The steps ofabove can be expressed or coded in a software or a hardware.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method of processing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layerthrough which at least one first channel is mapped to a second channelin a transmitting side of a wireless communication system, the methodcomprising: configuring a MAC layer data block by including at least onehigher layer data block received through the at least one first channeland including a header comprising a plurality of fields, each of theplurality of fields independently identifies at least two types ofinformation used for identifying a higher layer data block, wherein theat least two types of information includes logical channel informationand a size of the at least one higher layer data block; and transferringthe MAC layer data block to a lower layer through the second channel. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first channel is alogical channel and the second channel is a transport channel.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fields is includedfor each logical channel.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the logicalchannel information is a logical channel identification.
 5. The methodof claim 4, further comprising adding one common logical channelidentification to all higher layer data blocks transmitted via a samelogical channel.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least twotypes of information further comprises a MAC-d flow.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the transport channel is an Enhanced Dedicated Channel(E-DCH).
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the header further comprisesa field indicating a number of higher layer data blocks received viaeach of the at least one first channel, wherein the at least one firstchannel is a logical channel.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: indexing an amount of higher layer data blocks transmittedvia the at least one first channel into smaller amount sizes; andinserting the index into the header.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereinthe smaller amount sizes are configured depending on a type of logicalchannel.
 11. A method of processing data in a Medium Access Control(MAC) layer through which at least one first channel is mapped to asecond channel in a receiving side of a wireless communication system,the method comprising: receiving a MAC layer data block from a lowerlayer through the second channel, wherein the MAC layer data blockcomprises a header including a plurality of fields, each of theplurality of fields independently identifies at least two types ofinformation used for identifying at least one higher layer data block,wherein the at least two types of information includes logical channelinformation and a size of the at least one higher layer data block; andtransferring the at least one higher layer data block in the MAC layerdata block to a higher layer via the at least one first channel usingthe at least two types of information identified by each of theplurality of fields.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at leastone first channel is a logical channel and the second channel is atransport channel.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein each of theplurality of fields is included for each logical channel.
 14. The methodof claim 11, wherein the logical channel information is a logicalchannel identification.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprisingadding one common logical channel identification to all higher layerdata blocks transmitted via a same logical channel.
 16. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the at least two types of information furthercomprises a MAC-d flow.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thetransport channel is an Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH).
 18. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the header further comprises a fieldindicating a number of higher layer data blocks to be transferred viaeach of the at least one first channel included in the MAC layer datablock, wherein the at least one first channel is a logical channel. 19.A method of processing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of auser equipment (UE) through which at least one first channel is mappedto a second channel in a transmitting end of a wireless communicationsystem, the method comprising: configuring a MAC layer data block byincluding at least one higher layer data block received through the atleast one first channel and including a header comprising a plurality offields, each of the plurality of fields identifies at least two types ofinformation used for identifying a higher layer data block, wherein theat least two types of information includes logical channel informationand a size of the at least one higher layer data block; and transferringthe MAC layer data block to a lower layer through the second channel.20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one first channel is alogical channel and the second channel is a transport channel.